9alpha-halo-17alpha-methylandrostane-3, 11beta, 17beta-triol



United States Patent 2,813,881 9a-HALO-17a-METHYLANDROSTANE-3,1113,17 fl- TRIOL Milton E. Herr, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Application March 19, 1956, Serial No. 572,231

7 Claims. (Cl. 260397.5)

This invention pertains to organic compounds of the androstane series and is more particularly concerned with novel 90: halo l7a-methylandrostane-3,113,17,3- triols of the formula x a no g wherein R is selected from hydrogen and methyl and X is a halogen atom having an atomic weight from nineteen to 127, i. e. fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Preferably X is a halogen atom having an atomic weight from nineteen to 36, i. e. fluorine and chlorine, fluorine being preferred. It is to be understood that the configuration of the 3-hydroxy group and the S-hydrogen atom each can be u: or 13, and that compounds having both forms of the S-hydroxy group and the S-hydrogen atom are included within the scope of the present invention. This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 550,844, filed December 5, 1955, now abandoned.

It is an object of this invention to provide the 170:- methylandrostane-3,l1,9,17t3-triols of the above formula. Said compounds are potent anabolic and androgenic agents and are used in place of prior anabolic and androgenic agents in known anabolic and androgenic pharmaceutical preparations. The compounds also have hypotensive, anti-pituitary, anti-estrogen, and central nervous system depressant activity, and are employed in place of known agents in pharmaceutical formulations used for such purposes. Other objects and uses will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The 9a-halo-17a-methylandrostane-3,115,17,8-triols of the above formula are also useful in the form of their 17-monoacylate, 3,17-diacylate, 11,17-diacylate and 3,- 11,17-triacylate. Their acylates, e. g., mono-, di-, or triacetate, propionate, trimethylacetate, a or ,B-cyclopentylpropionate, a. or p-cyclohexylpropionate, benzoate, phenylacetate, cyclohexylacetate, a or fi-phenylpropionate, or other hydrocarbon carboxylate, preferably containing from one to nine carbon atoms, inclusive, are useful for the same purposes as the parent compounds, and in addition these esters are useful for the purification of the parent 9a-halo-17a methylandrostane 3,115,17fltriols.

The 9u-halo17a-methylandrostane-3,1118,17fl-triols of the present invention can be prepared readily from the corresponding 90: halo 11/3,17,9-dihydroxy-l7a-methylandrostane-3-ones (starting compounds are described in copending applications Serial No. 550,846, filed December 5, 1955, now abandoned and Serial No. 572,232,

filed March 19, 1956) by hydrogenation of the 3-keto group to a 3-hydroxy group. The hydrogenation canbe carried out by chemical reduction procedure, e. g., using.

a chemical reducing agent such as sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, or

other dimetallic hydride, sodium and alcohol, etc. in aa solvent which does not react readily with the reducing agent. The hydrogenation can also be carried out catalytically, e. g., employing hydrogen and a platinum catasuch as ethyl alcohollyst employing an inert solvent The 9a-halo-l7a-alkylandrostane-3,l1 3,175-triols and 9a halo 17a alkyl 19 norandrostane 3,llfl,l7{3 triols wherein the alkyl radical is preferably a loweralkyl radical containing from two to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, e. g. ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, secondarybutyl, amyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, etc., and wherein the halo atom is defined as above, are prepared by the same methods and have similar androgenic, hypotensive, antipituitary, central nervous system depressant, anti-estrogen, and anabolic activity.

The following examples are illustrative of certain preferred products and processes and are not to be construed as limiting.

Example 1.A suspension of 9a-fiuoro-1lB,l7B-dihydroxy-17a-methyl-5B-androstane-3-one in ethyl alcohol is stirred with a solution containing an excess of sodium borohydride in one-tenth normal aqueous sodium hydroxide. The starting steroid dissolves almost immediately and after ten minutes stirring, the mixture is diluted with water and dilute aqueous acid is added to raise the pH of the mixture to pH 6. The product which precipitates is removed by filtration, Washed with water, and dried in vacuo to provide 9a-fiuoro-17amethyl-5fi-androstane-3a,115,17,8-triol. Recrystallization gave a melting point of 186-190 degrees centigrade (decomposes) and an [M of plus 24 degrees in ethanol.

Anal.-Calcd. for C20H3303F: C, 70.54; H, 9.77; F, 5.58. Found: C, 70.85; H, 9.87; F, 5.70.

Example 2.9a-fluoro-11B,17,8-dihydroxy-17a-methyl- 5o: androstane 3 one is converted to fluoro-l7amethyl-5a-androstane-3/3,11,3,17B-triol following the hydrogenation procedure of Example 1: A mixture of 0.5 gram of 9a fiuoro 11153175 dihydroxy-17a-methyl-5aandrostan-3-one and ten milliliters of percent ethanol was treated 'with a solution of 250 milligrams of sodium borohydride in 2.5 milliliters of one-tenth normal aqueous sodium hydroxide and stirred at a temperature of about 25 degrees centigrade for ten minutes. The mixture was diluted with 25 milliliters of water and carefully neutralized with acetic acid. The 9a-flu0IO-l7ocmethyl-5a-androstane3fl,1 1,8,175 triol which separated was recovered by filtration, washed with Water and recrystallized from dilute acetone; yield 0.47 gram; melting point 260 degrees centigrade with decomposition; [0:1 plus seven degrees in ethanol.

Example 3.Following the same hydrogenation procedure as shown in Examples 1 or 2, 9a-fiuoro-11/3,17/3- dihydroxy-17a-methyl-l9-nor-5a androstane 3 one is converted to 9a-fluoro-17a-methyl-19-nor5u-androstane- 35,115,17/3-triol and 9a-fluoro-11fl,1718-dihydroxy-17amethyl-19-nor-5/3-androstane-3-one is converted to 90- fluoro 17a methyl l9 nor' 518 androstane 3a,1lfl,17fi-triol. Also following the procedure of Examples 1 or 2, 9ocChl0l0-, 9u-bromo-, and 9oc-i0d0- 11 6,1713 dihydroxy 17a methyl 5u(and 5B) androstane-Ii-one are hydrogenated to provide 9oc-Chl0IO-,

9a-bromo-, and 9a-iodo-l7a-methyl-5a(and 5 3)-androprovide 9a-chloro-, 9a-bromo-, and 9a-iodo-l7a-methyl- Patented Nov. 19, 1957 19.2110115,0((3Dd 5(3)...androstane-3p3(and 3u),1l;3,175- triol. Other 9a-halo-l7a-alkyl-5a(and 5,8)-androstane- 35(and 3oz),11{3,17B-T.1'l0ls and 9a-halo- 17a-alkyl-19-nor- 5 x(and 55.).-androstane-3B(and 3a),l1B,l713-ttiOlS, where: in the alkylradical andshalo atom are defined and illustrated above, are, prepared by the same procedure from corresponding 9.1x,- halo:115,17fl-dihydroxy-17ot-alkyl-5a- (and 5/3.);androstane-3-ones and 9a:halo-11B,17B-.dihydroxy- 17ot-alkyl-19-nor-5a and 55) -.androstane-.3-ones.

Examplew 4.Av solution of Qot-fiuOrO-methyl-Sa-androstane-3B,'11,8,l7-,triol in dry pyridine is treated with acetic .anhydride, the molar ratio of steroid to acetic anhydride being about two. to four and theresulting mixture is heatedunder reflux for about five hours. The mix-.

/, as the. starting. steroid in the. foregoing procedure. Substitutingthe appropriate acylating agent, i. e., the appropriate acid, acid anhydride or acid chloride, for the acetic ,anhydride. in the above process. provides other 3,17-diacylates of Qa-fluoro-17a-methy1-5a(and 5B)-androstanere 3,3.(and 3.a.),1*lB,17 3-tri0l and 9a-fllJO1O-l7amethyl-l9rnor.5u(and 5B)-androstane-3B(and 3u),1lB,- 1'7'flrtl'i01 including the 3,17-diformate, dipropionate, di- (trimethylacetate), difuroate, di-(oc or B-cyclohexylpropionate), dibengoate, di-(phenylacetate), di(u or B- cyclopentylpropionate), (ii-(a or p-phenylpropionate), di- (rnethylbenzoate), (11:.(0: or ,B-furylacrylate), divalerate, dimethacrylate, and. the. like, By following the. foregoing. acylation. procedure 3,1-7-diacylates having acylate radicals. as. defined and illustratedv above, are prepared from. 9e:chloro-., 9a-bromo-., and 9a-iodo-17m-methyl androstane-35,llfi,17e-triol 3,11,17-triacetate is obtained by recrystallizationof chromatographic separation. 9afluoro -,17a methyl 5g androstane 312,115,173 triol 3,11,17-triacetate is obtained in exactly the same manner by substituting 9m-fiuoro-17u-methyl-513-androstane- 3a,llfi,l7fi-trioi for the above starting steroid. By substituting the appropriate acylating agent, i. e., the appropriate acid anhydride or isopropenyl acylate, in the above procedure other 3,11,17-triacy1ates of 9u-fluoro-, 9a-Chl0I'O-, 9a-bromo-, and 9a-iodo-l7a-methyl-5a(and 5;8)-androstane-3}8(and 3,cc).,l 1[i,l7,B-tti0l and 9a-fluoro-, 9e-chloro-, 9a-bromo-, and 9a-iodo-17m-methyl-l9-nor- Su( and i sl-androsia-nefifli and 3u 11fi,17;3-triol ,are obtained including the 3,11,17dripropionate, triacetate, tri- (trimethylacetate), trifuorate, tri-(m or p-cyclohexylpropionatel, tribenzoate, tri-.( phenylacetate), tri-(ct or 8- cyclopentylpropionate), tri-(a or fi-phenylpropionate), tri-methylbenzoates), tri- (a or B-furylacrylates), trivalerate, tri-(methacrylate), 11a cetate 3,17-diformate, 11- (fl-cyclopentylpropionate) 3-,17-diacetate, and the like. The foregoing 3;, l 7;-.diacylatesand 3,11 ,17-triacylates, and also 17-monoacylates and 11,17-diacylates as well as other 3,1 7-diacylates and other 3,11,17-triacylates, can be prepared by-hydrogenation, accordingto the process of thepresent invention, of corresponding 17-acylates and 1. lgllediacylatesof 9a-fluoro-, 9a-chloro-, 9a-bromo-, and 9m-iodo-11,8,175-dihydroxy-17a-methyl-5a(and 513)- androstane-3-one and 9m-fil101'0-, 9oz-ChlO1'O-, 9ot-bromo-, and iodo 1lfi,'l'7fi-dihydroxy-17a-methyl-19-nor-5a- (and 513 )-androstane-3v-one, followed by acylation according to the procedure ofExamples 4 and/ or 5, when applicable, to obtain the desired acylated product. The 17-monoacylates, 3-,1'7-diacylates, 1l,l7-diacylates and 3,11,17 -triacylates of other 9a-halo-l7ot-alkyl-5a(and 55)-androstane-3fi(and 3u),ll/3,17fi-trio1s and 9tz-halo- 17a-a1kyl-l9-nor-5a(and 5,8);androstane-3fi(and 3oz),- lltLlZB-triols, wherein the alkyl and acylate radicals and the halo atom areas defined and illustrated above, also are-prepared by the foregoing procedures.

l clairnt- 1. 911-halo--l-7e-methylandrostane-3,1113,17B-trio1 of the formula cia;

whcrein-R is selectedf-rom hydrogen'and methyl and X is a-halogenatom having an atomic weight from nineteen toll 7':

2.- 9oz halo 17 a methyland-rostane 3,113,17fi-triol whereinthe halo atom-'has-an atomic weight from nineteento 36'.

3'.- 9m halo 17 methyl 19 norandrostane 3,- 116,17B-triol wherein the haloatom hasan atomic weight tronrnineteen to 36.

4. 9 0L fiuoro- 17a methyl 5a. androstane 36,- 11,9,- l7i9-triol;

7. '90: fiuqro- 17a.- methyl 19 nor 53- androstane-3a,llp;l7p-triol.

No references cited. 

1. 9A-HALO- 17 A-METHYLANDROSTANE-3,11B,17B-TRIOL OF THE FORMULA 